point-blankˌpoint-ˈblank adverb 
He refused point-blank to identify his accomplices. I told him point-blank that I didn’t want to get involved.2a gun fired point-blank is fired very close to the person or thing it is aimed at: The victim was shot point-blank in the chest.—point-blank adjective: a point-blank refusal The bullet was fired at point-blank range.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I told Fred point-blank that he had made a mistake.
- Rutledge shot him point-blank in the chest.
- The men broke into the building at the dead of night, and shot their victims point-blank as they slept.
Longman Language Activatornear enough to pick up/touch/hit
if something is handy , it is near enough for you to pick up and use quickly and easily: keep/have something handy: · Make sure you keep your passport and ticket handy.· A lot of people in the States have a gun handy at night and when they travel.
if something is within reach , it is near enough for you to take hold of or touch when you stretch out your hand: · As soon as she was within reach he grabbed her wrist.within easy reach: · Roy pulled the ashtray towards him so that it was within easy reach.within somebody's reach: · At this exploratory stage, small children will want to touch anything you leave within their reach.
if something is within range , it is near enough for you to attack it or for a weapon to reach it: · Once its prey is within range, the snake's head shoots forward to attack.within range of: · The village is well within range of the rockets which are being fired.come within range of something: · A day later, the "Tiger" convoy came within range of air attack.
a gun fired point-blank is fired very close to the person or thing it is aimed at: · The men broke into the building at the dead of night, and shot their victims point-blank as they slept.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He refused point-blank to identify his accomplices. a point-blank refusal The bullet was fired at point-blank range.
1if you say or refuse something point-blank, you do it directly and without trying to explain your reasons: He refused point-blank to identify his accomplices. a point-blank refusal The bullet was fired at point-blank range. He refused point-blank to identify his accomplices. I told him point-blank that I didn’t want to get involved.2a gun fired point-blank is fired very close to the person or thing it is aimed at: The victim was shot point-blank in the chest.—point-blank adjective: a point-blank refusal The bullet was fired at point-blank range.